Gov. Pillen requests federal disaster declaration, with estimated $11.5 million in storm damage

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (center) joins State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn in her district, visiting people in Douglas County who had homes damaged by the tornadoes that hit the area April 26, 2024. (Courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen has officially submitted a request to President Joe Biden for a federal disaster declaration, estimating $11.5 million for public infrastructure damage.

The Thursday request comes nearly one week after last week’s destructive Friday storms in eastern Nebraska. This includes Lancaster, Douglas and Washington Counties, for which Pillen has already issued an emergency proclamation, unlocking emergency state funds.

Relief costs include debris removal, emergency protective measures and individual assistance.

“This is not normal for Nebraskans to ask for help,” Pillen said at a Monday news conference. “If you don’t ask for help, we actually harm our neighbor because we need everybody to get to the level so that we can get the federal assistance.”

The federal request comes in coordination between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska’s state counterpart, which have conducted multiple damage assessments, including flyovers of damaged areas.

Preliminary public infrastructure damage assessments total $11.5 million, of which more than $8 million is for damage in Douglas and Washington Counties. 

The request states the cost will increase as damage assessments continue.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on Thursday night announced a call to the Omaha City Council to approve $100,000 to assist families affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes.

Stothert requested that the council forgo the annual Neighborhood Grants program awards and instead reallocate the funds to organizations providing direct and immediate aid to families.

“Omaha is a community of caring and we all want to help,” Stothert said in a statement. “That has been very apparent in the last week.” 

Under two nearly identical proposed resolutions, the relief funds would be divided between the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation and Relevant Community Church, which Stothert said have helped to alleviate suffering and help the community heal from the storms.

“While those who have applied for the neighborhood grants have worthy causes and projects, I cannot overlook the generosity and comfort [of the organizations assisting with storm recovery],” Stothert wrote to the council.

The resolution will be considered at the May 7 City Council meeting.

FEMA has validated that nearly 400 homes were impacted in Douglas and Washington Counties, including almost 160 homes that were destroyed. Nebraska National Guard members are assisting with security and recovery efforts in Douglas County at Pillen’s deployment.

Pillen has said it could take “every single weekend” and opportunity “between now the snow flying” to get communities able to start rebuilding. Full recovery, he added, will take years.

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